Healthcare Matters

In this special live episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc bring you insightful conversations from the 2025 World Vaccine Congress in Washington, DC. Joined by leading experts—including Richard Hughes, Abby Bownas, Rekha Lakshmanan, and Tommy Acciani—they explore the current landscape of adult immunization policy, funding threats to vaccine infrastructure, misinformation challenges, and what&r...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, hosts Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc are joined by Peter Pitts, former FDA Associate Commissioner and President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. Together, they unpack the sweeping personnel cuts at HHS, ongoing instability at the FDA, and how it all may threaten the future of drug innovation in the U.S. With delays in leadership appointments, policy misalignment across age...

Are well-intentioned vaccine policies making access harder instead of easier? In this episode of Healthcare Matters, hosts Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc unpack a new report from the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) on how Shared Clinical Decision Making (SCDM) and risk-based recommendations may unintentionally reduce adult vaccination rates—particularly in underserved communities. From real-world data showing a 10 ...

Did you know that millions of adults may have missed crucial vaccines due to restrictive state policies on pharmacist vaccination authority? In this episode of Healthcare Matters, hosts Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc sit down with Vibhu Tewary and Conrad Bhamani from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science to discuss new research conducted by the IQVIA Institute and GHLF on how these restrictions impact vaccination rates. The...

S6, Ep 1- Vaccine Hesitancy & Access: What Our Latest Survey Reveals

In this season premiere of Healthcare Matters, our hosts are joined by Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), to discuss the critical role of vaccines in public health and the persistent challenges of misinformation, access barriers, and vaccine hesitancy. They also delve into the concerning findings from GHLF&r...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian, Ben Blanc, and guest Corey Greenblatt, Director of State Policy and Advocacy at GHLF, dive into the complexities of vaccine guidelines and access. They discuss the role of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with Corey sharing insights on GHLF’s advocacy to make vaccines more accessible. Dr. Popovian underscores the importance of aligning guidelines wi...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc unpack the often unpredictable nature of political affiliations in relation to support for patient-centric policies, particularly in the realm of drug pricing and the influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). They discuss bipartisan efforts to address drug pricing reforms and delve into Governor Newsom's controversial veto of the PBM Reform Bill in Califo...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, join Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc as they delve into the issue of patient steering by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). With firsthand accounts from guests Lou Tharp, Executive Director and Co-Founder of GHLF, and Dr. Anne Sydor, Director of Research Development at GHLF, the discussion highlights how PBM-owned pharmacies and policies like accumulators and maximizers limit patient choice a...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, join Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc as they dissect the critical role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the health care system, guided by recent findings from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The episode delves into how PBMs control a significant portion of the U.S. prescription market, discussing the implications of their dominance on drug prices, and the viability of independent p...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, join our hosts as they explore the innovative world of gene therapy with guest Dr. Anne Sydor, Director of Research Development at GHLF. Together, they delve into the complexities of gene therapy treatments, the reasoning behind their high costs, and the challenges posed by current regulatory environments. They also discuss whether there is a need to reevaluate payment models to support the su...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc bring you essential takeaways from the World Vaccine Congress. Joined by guests Abby Bownas, leader of the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC) and the American Disease Prevention Coalition (ADPC), and Dr. Thomas Acciani, Director of U.S. Vaccine Policy at GSK, they delve into their significant roles within the vaccine landscape and discuss the overarching im...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc are joined by Kate Hudson, Associate Vice President and Counsel for Government Relations and Public Policy at the Association of American Universities, to dissect the complex issue of march-in rights. They delve into how this regulation negatively influences the partnership between public research and private sector investment, which is crucial for supporting biopharmaceutical inno...

Join Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc for a special live episode from the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, DC, where they delve into the latest developments in vaccine policy and economic research. This episode spotlights the congress's role as a vital hub for collaboration and innovation in the vaccine industry.
 
Tune in to get an insider's view of the pivotal conversations shaping the future of vaccines.

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In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc take a deep dive into GHLF’s latest vaccine study with guests Dr. Wayne Winegarden, Senior Fellow in Business and Economics at the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and Director of PRI's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation, and Esteban Rivera, Associate Director of Data Science and Economics at GHLF.

Together, they delve into the study, which underscore...

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, our hosts dive into the impact of pharmacy reimbursement on vaccination rates with guest Vibhu Tewary, researcher and

Project Director at IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. Through discussing a recent study, they reveal how a modest increase in reimbursement can lead to higher flu vaccination rates among Medicaid-covered adults. The episode also touches on the role of pharmacies in public...

Dr. Robert Popovian and Conner Mertens dive into the problematic practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that prioritize profits over patient access to affordable medications. Focusing on the case of a generic asthma medication offered at a discount yet overlooked by PBMs, the hosts explore the deep-seated issues of misaligned incentives in health care. They also discuss innovative solutions to bypass the traditional pharmace...

Join our hosts as they explore the substantial impact of COVID-19 vaccines. They discuss a groundbreaking study by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) revealing how rapid vaccine development and distribution saved millions of lives and prevented hospitalizations, leading to a significant $500 billion economic saving. The episode delves into vaccine efficacy, the importance of boosters, and strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy....

Dr. Robert Popovian and Conner Mertens, along with guest Catherine Hicks, a patient diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis as a child, dive into the complex world of formulary exclusions. They discuss how these exclusions impact patient care and the hidden consequences they bring, including how Catherine was personally impacted. Dr. Popovian also shares learnings from GHLF’s research work, shedding light on the clinical and e...

Our hosts delve into the complex and concerning rise in drug shortages affecting patients in the U.S. and around the world. They explore the intricate economics driving the scarcity of essential medicines, from the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act to the raw material supply disruptions tied to over-reliance on China. 

Listen as they discuss the severe repercussions on patient care, including delayed treatments and compromised...